Understanding Communication Development
Every individual's communication journey is unique. This guide provides general milestones to help you understand what to look for—not a checklist to induce anxiety. Remember that development happens on a spectrum, and many factors influence a child's timeline.
Birth to 6 Months
What You Might See
- Crying to communicate needs
- Cooing and making vowel sounds (ah, eh, oh)
- Smiling in response to your smile
- Looking at faces with interest
- Startling to loud sounds
- Calming to familiar voices
- Beginning to babble with consonant sounds (ba, da)
How to Support Development
- Talk to your baby during daily routines
- Respond to their sounds as if they're talking to you
- Sing songs and read books
- Make eye contact during feeding and diaper changes
- Narrate what you're doing throughout the day
6 to 12 Months
What You Might See
- Babbling with variety (bababa, mamama)
- Responding to their name
- Understanding "no" and simple phrases
- Using gestures (waving, reaching, pointing)
- Imitating sounds and actions
- Showing you things by pointing
- First words may emerge around 12 months
How to Support Development
- Play peek-a-boo and other interactive games
- Point to and name objects
- Read simple books together
- Respond enthusiastically to their communication attempts
- Limit screen time
12 to 18 Months
What You Might See
- First words (mama, dada, ball, more)
- Using 5-10 words by 18 months
- Understanding more than they say
- Following simple directions ("give me the ball")
- Pointing to ask for things
- Pointing to show you things
- Recognizing names of familiar people and objects
How to Support Development
- Expand on their words ("Ball! Yes, big blue ball!")
- Offer choices ("Milk or juice?")
- Read, read, read
- Sing songs with actions
- Pause and wait for them to communicate
18 to 24 Months
What You Might See
- Vocabulary explosion (50+ words by 24 months)
- Starting to combine two words ("more milk," "daddy go")
- Following two-step directions
- Pointing to body parts when named
- Using words for many purposes (requesting, labeling, refusing)
- Beginning to engage in pretend play
How to Support Development
- Model two-word combinations
- Create opportunities for communication (put favorites out of reach)
- Talk about what you're doing
- Ask simple questions
- Read books with simple stories
2 to 3 Years
What You Might See
- Speaking in 2-3 word phrases regularly
- Vocabulary of 200+ words by age 2, 1000+ by age 3
- Asking questions (what? where?)
- Using pronouns (I, me, you)
- Strangers understanding about half of what they say
- Engaging in back-and-forth conversation
- Telling simple stories
How to Support Development
- Have conversations (not just giving directions)
- Ask open-ended questions
- Expand their sentences
- Read books with more complex stories
- Play pretend together
3 to 4 Years
What You Might See
- Speaking in 4-5 word sentences
- Telling stories with a beginning, middle, and end
- Asking "why" questions (many, many why questions!)
- Using past tense, though not always correctly
- Being understood by unfamiliar listeners most of the time
- Having conversations with peers
How to Support Development
- Encourage storytelling
- Play games with rules
- Have back-and-forth conversations about their day
- Read longer books
- Introduce new vocabulary
4 to 5 Years
What You Might See
- Speaking in complex sentences
- Using grammar correctly most of the time
- Telling detailed stories
- Understanding most of what's said to them
- Rhyming and playing with sounds
- Being understood clearly by others
How to Support Development
- Discuss abstract concepts
- Play rhyming games
- Talk about the past and future
- Encourage them to explain their thinking
- Read chapter books together
When to Reach Out
Consider connecting with a speech-language pathologist if:
- Your child isn't babbling by 12 months
- You don't see any words by 16 months
- There are no two-word combinations by 24 months
- Your child loses words or skills they previously had
- You're concerned about how they understand language
- Others have a hard time understanding your 3-year-old
Early support is always beneficial. Trust your instincts.
Remember
Milestones are guides, not rigid rules. Many factors affect language development, including:
- Multilingual environments (often a temporary delay, then catch-up)
- Gestalt language processing (different but valid pathway)
- Temperament and personality
- Overall development
- Individual differences
You know your child best. If something feels off, it's always okay to ask.